Self-priming positive displacement constant flow high capacity pump

ABSTRACT

A rotary action, self-priming positive displacement constant flow high capactity fluid pump is described. None of the pump parts touch in the pump chamber to minimize pump wear allowing for extended pump live. Since there are no touching parts in the pump chamber, the pump can be operated dry without the pump liquid being present without damage to the pump. The pump may be operated either clockwise or counter-clockwise without loss of positive displacement or reduction in fluids input or output. Due to the design of the pump, the pump is inherently low-maintenance and is highly resistant to clogging by debris and the like. Fluid pressure relief sections are provided by carving out of the inside portions of the housing structure to which the ends of the shaft are mounted to vary or improved pump performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pumps, and, more particularly, to liquid pumps of the rotary, positive displacement, and self priming pumps capable of being operated by hand or by the application of a source of rotary power such as a fuel-driven engine or an electrical motor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The present pump is an improvement over a previously patented pump, U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,375 issued to Nachtrieb on Nov. 8, 1977 and which expired on Nov. 8, 1994.

In the prior art, positive displacement pumps and centrifugal pumps are used in moving fluids, typically liquids, from one location to another.

The centrifugal pump bases it pumping action by vortexually swirling the liquid to be pumped at relatively high speeds, and, thereafterwards, allowing the the liquid to pass through a ported chamber. Such pumps are noted for their simplicity and relatively long operational life expectancies. Nevertheless, a centrifugal pump is also noted for it's pump inefficiency, has only a small lift capacity, and produces only moderate head pressure. As a result, centrifugal pumps are usually arranged in staggered, serial stages in order to produce the desired high head pressures. But, such multi-staged centrifugal pumps are expensive, relatively complex in design, and are usually less efficient than a single stage centrifugal

The pump in Nachtrieb is also a rotary-type fluid pump. However, the prior art pump of Nachtrieb is limited to functioning as a semi-positive displacement, and is not self priming as is the applicant's invention described hereinafterwards. Additionally, the applicant's invention is self-priming. Another major difference lies in the design of the vane structures. In the pump design of Nachtrieb, the vane structures are limited to using vanes which are rectangular in shape and are straight in the cross-sectional view thereof. In the pump disclosed herein, the key elements have been improved upon to meet both new re-designed pump, the vanes do not have flat faces, but are contoured instead, and the new and improved pump is self-priming. Additionally, the fluid pressure relief sections carved out of the housing structure at the ends of the shafts for the vanes are modified to vary or improve pump performance which result in a semi-positive displacement pump which is not self-priming.

Other prior art pumps are noted and contrasted with the applicant's invention disclosed herein in the following U.S. Patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 263,196 (H. T. Morse) relates to a water wheel. This is a turbine type water wheel pump. In reference to the FIG. 1, by curving or bending the buckets m m in opposite directions, as shown and described, they are prevented from interlocking as the disks revolve, and the friction between them is reduced, the contact-surface being less than it would be with straight buckets. The key is the space f formed by the intermeshing of four of the buckets, as shown in FIG. 1. The curb E is open on the line g-g, permitting the buckets m m to protrude as they revolve, thus giving free vent to the wheel and overcoming choking and nearly all other difficulties which pertain to this class of wheels arising from centrifugal action. By curving or bending the buckets m-m in opposite directions, they are prevented from interlocking as the disks revolve, and the friction between them is reduced, the contact surface being less than it would be with straight buckets.

U.S. Pat. No. 294,026 (B. Fitts) relates to a “rotary meter.” Two coacting rotating pistons having intermeshing parts are employed for measuring the water or liquid as it passes through the meter-chamber, in which said pistons are fitted in manner to be revolved by the flow of liquid, and the motion of the pistons transmitted to a registering mechanism by a train of gears working in connection therewith. The primary features of this invention include the construction of the revolving pistons as employed in the meters and the construction and arrangement of the gears or devices for receiving and transmitting the motion from the rotating pistons to the registering mechanism. The curvature of the blades or wings c is made similar to the curvature of the working surfaces of gear-teeth of corresponding pitch and diameter so that adjacent faces con the respective intermeshed blades will make contact and roll against each other as the two pistons C and C′ revolve in unison. The backs of the blades are cut away or hollowed.

U.S. Pat. No. 295,597 (Troutman) relates to a rotary pump having a pair of journaled pistons formed with a plurality of blades C which are formed plain and straight on one side, d, an on the other side made slightly convex or any suitable irregular contour. The key to this invention lies in the fact that when water tight chambers are formed between two pairs of contacting blades, C, the chambers, D, formed therebetween the size of the chambers are no diminished in capacity at any time during the progress of the pistons. This is accomplished by the blades, C, being straight on e one side and irregular on the other (or opposite) side so that the irregular surfaces shall be the contact surfaces.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,262,231 (Guibert, et al.) relates to a rotary liquid metering device. The passage of liquid through the meter causes the rotors to revolve, and thus the number of revolutions is a function of the quantity of liquid passing through the meter. Whil pockets, or sumps 68, 69 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) are formed in the side wall 14 and cover 15 of housing 12, their function simply eliminates an annoying knock or water hammer if the water should be trapped in space 66. The water in the sumps 68, 69 is not allowed to by-pass the pump blades. The operation of the pump is similar to that of a gear pump; in fact, this invention may be considered as such, having gears of two teeth only.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,011 (Karl, et al.) relates to a rotary pump. In pumping operations, liquid or chemicals must be circulated in large quantities and often in both directions. Gear pumps are often used for this purpose, but are inefficient and wear quickly when operated at high speeds. Impellers are used in this pump instead of gears to eliminate wear. Large quantities of liquid can be circulated with a minimum of power. The pump, however, is reversible.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,682 (Meads) relates to a gear pump. Gear pumps having gears with involute gear teeth are relatively inefficient. This inefficiency is due in part to the porting arrangement of the housing and the gear to housing clearances. Housing port shapes reduce turbulence and back pressure caused by the trapping of the pumped liquid. The working spaces between adjacent gear teeth form chambers of decreasing volume as the opposite gear tooth enters the space, and a partial hydrostatic lock will develop if the trapped liquid can't escape. This is accomplished via a depression formed in the housing which communicates with one of the ports and with a pocket between the meshing gear teeth. This depression is characterized by being adjacent to the meshing gear teeth by a shape that conforms with the line of action of the teeth on one side and with the working circle depth of the other thereby allowing the chamber formed by the gears is free to the passage of pumped fluid in the connected port. The gear teeth are contoured and not straight.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,676 (Bizier) relates to a rotary fluid handling machine. It has an improved design of the piston blades and adjacent notches in the rotors, and improve location of the admission and exhaust of the fluids. This can also be used as a four-cycle or a two cycle engine.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,346 (Kimmons, et al) Roots-type rotary blowers are known for their noisy operation. Roots-type blowers are similar to gear-type pumps. Both employ toothed or lobed rotors meshingly disposed in transversely overlapping cylindrical chambers. Roots-type blowers are used almost exclusively to pump or transfer volumes of compressible fluids, such as air. The purpose of this invention is to merely reduce the amount of background noise produced by a Roots-type rotary blower. Intermeshing contoured vanes are used in the invention of this patent.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,275 (Sager) relates to a rotary pump having helical gear teeth with a small angle of wrap. Rotary pumps of the intermeshing gear type are well known in the prior art. Such gear pumps are highly useful for volumetric pumping. Typically, a gear pump comprise a pair of meshing gears in a housing. The rotating gears pump fluid around their outer peripheries transversely across the gears, while pumping little or no fluid back in the other direction through the meshing gears. Gear teeth with contoured faces are used in this invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,508 (Kiefer) discloses the design of a rotary pump and rotor-shaft subassembly for use therein. In FIG. 3, there is shown a pump with a pair of roots-blower types of counter-rotating shafts 31 and 33

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS

Fundamentally, there is described and disclosed herein a new and improved rotary action, self-priming, positive displacement, constant flow high capactity fluid pump. None of the pump parts touch in the pump chamber to minimize pump wear and allowing for extended pump life. Since there are no parts which touch each other in the pump chamber, the pump can be operated dry without the pump liquid being present and without incurring any damage to the pump. The pump may be operated either clockwise or counter-clockwise without loss of positive displacement or reduction in fluids input or output. Due to the design of the pump, the pump is inherently low-maintenance and is highly resistant to clogging by debris and the like. Fluid pressure relief sections are provided by carving out of the inside portions of the housing structure to which the ends of the shaft are mounted to vary or improve pump performance.

Most applications of this improved unique rotary pump, often referred to as a “positive displacement pump” result in significant savings of energy, such as electricity, fuel, and/or physical exertion.

Harnessing Geo-Thermal Power to Generate Electricity

For example, geothermal sources of power, particularly the deep hot mineral springs located in various parts of the world, such as in the Imperial Valley of Southern California in North America, offer enormous potential for harnessing and use of this otherwise unused geothermal energy source. Modernly, attempts are currently underway to utilize this hot water to generate economical and practical amounts of electrical energy. However, there exists one very difficult problem to be solved before such efforts can become successful. Because of the large quantities of mineral salts present in such waters, turbines and centrifugal pumps currently being utilized are subject o encrustations of mineral salts and scale which render such machinery inoperable after a short period of operation.

To overcome this problem, in regards to turbines, the steam which results from exposing the hot water (350° degrees Farenheit) to the open atmosphere is not fed directly to the turbines but is used to heat a Rankin Cycle system which employs iso-butane gas to fee such turbines. Such a closed system is complicated and very costly. Practically speaking, a more direct and simplified method is clearly needed. An additional problem is that the condensed steam must be pumped back into the ground, presently accomplished by the use of high pressure multi-stage centrifugal pumps, which quickly become plugged with mineral deposits. In the present invention, however, the pump incorporates a self-cleaning action, and, as such, offers a real solution to the mineralization and salination problem. As a result, through the use of the instant positive displacement pump, it is practical now to generate potentially vast amounts of electrical power at extremely lost cost per kilowatt/hour and, at the same time, only minimumal maintenance and a comparatively small amount of machinery is required.

Agricultural Industry Applications

The agricultural industry uses great quantities of small gasoline engines driving small high speed centrifugal pumps to spray liquid fertilizers and insecticides. Unfortunately, such pumps must be operated at high speed (3,425 RPM and higher) to develop the required pressure for useful operation of the centrifugal pumps. This high speed greatly shortens the useful life of such small engines. Additionally, due to the speed of the gasoline engines, fuel consumption and air pollution are high at such rotational velocities. The use of the unique and improved positive displacement pump described herein, when adapted for use in such applications, may be functionally operational at one-fifth (⅕) of the speed of the present equipment resulting in greatly extended engine life and significantly reduced fuel consumption.

The total energy useage and expense for the operation of all types of agricultural irrigation equipment is enormous. The greatest of such pumping is accomplished by the use of centrifugal pumps ranging in size from tiny fractional electrical prime movers. The present improved positive displacement pump disclosed herein could easily replace such widely used pumping equipment and could theoretically save as much as fifty (50%) percent of the energy presently being used in such operations.

There are more than one million privately-owned swimming pools in the United States of America, all of which use centrifugal pumps to circulate water for filtration and heating purposes. If the savings in energy costs amounted to $75.00 per month per pool, by replacing the existing energy-guzzing electrical pumps with the new and improved pump disclosed herein, a savings of $75,000,000.00 or more could be realized.

Use of the Positive Displacement Pumps on Fire Trucks

Standard models of fire trucks deliver 1,200 gallons per minute of water At 150 psi static pressure and utilize diesel engines which develop as high as 300 horsepower. Such pumpers cost in excess of $75,000.00 each and are seldom used at full capacity. There is a need for lower cost equipment with similar pumping capacity and for pumpers capable of delivering three (3) times the volume of water at the present cost of standard pumpers. The present invention described herein, when specifically designed for this purpose, could solve both needs. Although such applications have little to do with energy savings, property protection and the lowering of fire insurance rates would make the initial cost of doing so practical. It is clear that when the instant positive displacement pump operated in this fashion could be of significant value in areas where manual power alone is available to move water, or other fluids, since it amplifies a human's normal capability to move water by move primitive methods (such as carrying buckets) by at least a factor of eighteen or more.

Surpasses Capabilities of Centrifugal Pumps

The present invention surpasses the capabilities of centrifugal pumps not only as an energy saver, but because of the following attributes: it operates at a much Lower speed thereby increasing the operating life of the bearings and seals, pumps liquid of almost any kind or type, can operate as high as 40,000 SSU viscosity, has an extremely low shear factor, the delivery rate can be metered, it is self-priming, there is only a small loss in efficiency relative to the increase in pressure and/or head and lift, it has an extremely broad performance range, and may be powered by virtually any type of power source.

Further, it can be operated in a manner almost identical to that of a gear or vane type pumps, but with a flow rate equivalent to that of centrifugal pumps, and this positive displacement pump can effectively perform in a multitude of applications ordinarily requiring pumps of special design.

It is one important and primary object of the instant invention to provide a rotary pump configuration where the new vanes result in a greater positive displacement of the fluids and pressure.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a rotary pump which is significantly more efficient due to the reduced loss of fluid volume as the fluid head pressure increases.

It is yet a still further and primary object of the invention to provide a rotary pump configuration which creates a self-priming ability which was not previously available in high volume rotary pumps.

Another important and significant feature of this unique invention is to provide a rotary pump configuration in which the configuration of the rotary vanes or impellers can be readily modified to meet the desired requirements of the pumping application.

It is one primary and important feature of the present invention to provide a unique rotary pump design of the bottom chamber to eliminate compression of fluids while allowing rapid fluid flow through the pump while operating in either direction without loss of positive displacement or reduction in fluids input or output.

Another important feature of the instant invention is to provide a new interlocking device between the rotary shaft and the rotary impellers/vanes to insured positive locking therebetween.

An additional feature and modification of the present invention is that a neoprene tip can be added to the extremities of the rotary vanes or impellers to increase the positive displacement of the rotary pump.

It is yet a still further improvement and characteristic of this new and improved rotary pump to provide lobe contoured impellers or vanes incorporating involute shapes and the outer extremities of the impeller blades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of the stationary portion of the rotary pump housing showing various views.

FIG. 1A is a drawing of the stationary portion of the rotary pump housing showing the top view thereof.

FIG. 1B is a drawing of the stationary portion of the rotary pump housing showing the front and the back view thereof.

FIG. 1C is a drawing of the stationary portion of the rotary pump housing showing the side view thereof.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the present invention showing both the exterior pump housing and the interior pump chamber, along with the input/output ports, the inlet/outlet pressure release chambers, the side pressure release chambers, the center compression release channels, and side compression release channels.

FIG. 3 is a view of the two (2) impellers or vanes of the present invention shown intermeshing one with the other.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of a Neoprene tip mounted on the extremity of the impellers or vanes to increase the efficiency of the pump by effectuating a seal between the stationary pump housing and the impellers or vanes. The view being taken along Plane B-B of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the bottom plate with relief cavities of the stationary pump housing.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the three separator plates, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the special fluid seals about the two 9 pump shafts and sandwiched inbetween the gear housing and the rotary pump housing.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the combination shown and illustrated in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With continuing reference to all of the Drawings herein, there is basically shown and described a self-priming, high volume fluid pump. The primary difference between the present invention and the prior art invention of which Nachrieb is believed by the inventor to be the closest prior art reference part is the use of re-designed, more efficient newer vane structures. In the prior art pump disclosed and described by Nachrieb the rotary pump vanes are flat-faced, are rectangular and have a flat front face and corresponding flat backside. However, the incorporation and use of such vanes result in a semi-positive displacement pump which is not self-priming.

In the present invention, however, the vanes are not flat-faces, but a are contoured. They do not have flat surfaces on the front or backside portions of the rotary pump vanes.

Along with this important and significant modification, fluid pressure relief sections are incorporated in the stationary pump housing structure near the ends of the shaft of the rotating pump element. These fluid pressure relief sections which are carved out of the stationary pump housing, can be adjusted in size and volume to vary or improve pump performance at various rotational speeds.

Fundamentally, there is described and disclosed herein a new and improved rotary action, self-priming, positive displacement, constant flow high capactity fluid pump generally indicated at 10 in the various figures showing in diagrammatic form in FIG. 1 and in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. The rotary pump casing or housing is indicated generally at 11 In FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. FIG. 1A is a top view of the rotary pump casing 11, FIG. 1B is a back or rear view of the rotary pump casing 11, and FIG. 1C is a side elevational view of the rotary pump housing 11.

As noted in these figures, as part of the rotary pump casing 11, there is a first inlet/outlet 12 and a second inlet/outlet 13.

It should be clearly understood that the first inlet/outlet 12 and a second inlet/outlet 13 are designated as an inlet/outlet because each of these outlets, the first outlet 12 and the second outlet 13, can be used as either an inlet or an outlet in the following manner. If the first inlet/outlet 12 is used as an inlet, then the second inlet/outlet 13 will be used as an outlet. If the second inlet/outlet is used as an inlet 13, then the first inlet/outlet 12 will be used as an outlet.

As noted and shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, mounting lugs 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D are secured to the rotary pump housing 11 to any suitable mounting surface (not shown) to stabilize the entire pump housing 11 during operation of the rotary pump 10. Attachment of the lugs to the mounting surface is accomplished by screws, bolts or other suitable fasteners via the holes 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D in the corresponding tugs 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D.

With special reference now to FIG. 2, there is shown and illustrated the interior portion of the pump housing 11. As noted and shown, there is the exterior pump housing 16, with an interior pump chamber 17, inlet/outlet ports 18A, 18B, the inlet/outlet pressure release chambers 19A, 19B, the side pressure release chambers 20A, 20B, the center compression release channels 21A, 21B, and the side compression release channels 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D.

The above combination of pressure release chambers 19, 20 and the compression release channels 21, 22 all combine to create a greater efficiency due to a reduced loss of volume as head pressure increases. Additionally, this configuration and combination creates a self-priming capability not available in high volume pumps of a different pump design.

This design configuration of the bottom of the pump chamber 17 eliminates compression of fluids while allowing rapid flow of the fluids through the pump 10 while, at the same time, operating in either direction without loss of positive displacement or reduction in the fluids' input or output. In short, this pump 10 can be operated in either direction; that is, the inlet/outlet ports 18A, 18B can be configured switched to operate as either an inlet port or an outlet port. For example, if port 18A is fluidly connected as an inlet port, then port 18B will be the fluid outlet port, and visa versa.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown, in generally diagrammatic form, the pump bottom plate 23, a first shaft bearing seat 24, a second shaft bearing seat 25, and a plurality of fluid pressure relief cavities 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D.

With respect to the illustrations in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown, from A top view, the two impellers 27 and 28, driven by a driving shaft 29, through intermeshing gears 30, 31 operatively coupled to the shafts 32, 33 on which the impellers 27, 28 are fixedly mounted. A gear and impeller separator plate generally indicated at 33, is formed of three (3) separate plates, 33A, 33B, and 33C which forms the fluid chamber with the pump housing 11. Fluid seals 34 are provided for sealing between the plates 33A, 33B and 33C and about the shafts 32, 34.

The impellers 27, 28 are shown each with four (4) blades 36. Hubs 37, 38 are provided for mounting the impellers 27, 28 on the shafts 32, 34.

Cut-out slots 39 are provided in each of the extremities of the blades 36A, 36B for clearance between the intermeshing blade extremities between each of the tips of the blades 36A, 36B as the impellers 27, 28 rotate.

As noted and illustracted in FIG. 4, there is shown a Neoprene tip seal 40 for the purpose of enhancing the dynamic fluid sealing function between the extremity of the tip of the impeller blade 36 and the pump housing 11.

It should be clearly undertood and noted that the number of blades on the impellers can be increased for improved performance. The performance characteristics are improved over the current design shown and illustrated in these drawings based upon sealing produced by the involute design of the impeller hub and the outer extremities of impeller blades.

It should be noted from the beginning that none of the pump parts touch in the pump chamber. The primary purpose of this non-contacting feature is to minimize pump wear and allowing for extended pump life.

Also, since there are no parts which touch each other in the pump chamber, the pump can be operated dry without the pump liquid being present and without incurring any damage to the pump.

Additionally, the pump may be operated either clockwise or counter-clockwise without loss of positive displacement or reduction in fluids input or output. Due to the design of the pump, the pump is inherently low-maintenance and is highly resistant to clogging by debris and the like.

Fluid pressure relief sections are provided by carving out of the inside portions of the housing structure to which the ends of the shaft are mounted to vary or improve pump performance.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognized that there could variations to the embodiment and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention was described in terms of a particular verification system, one of ordinary skill in the art readily recognizes, that any number of parameters can be utilized and their use would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the scope of which is defined and limited only by the following claims. 

1. A improved rotary, self-priming, constant flow, high capacity, positive displacement pump, consisting of: a. a pump housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; b. a first rotary shaft having a plurality of impellers fixedly secured thereon, the faces of each of said impellers having a raised contoured portion near the tips thereof; c. a second rotary shaft having a plurality impellers fixedly secured thereon, the faces of each of said impellers having raised contoured portions near the tips thereof, said contoured portions being contoured in complementary relationship to the contoured portions on the first rotary shaft so that the impellers on the second rotary shaft can be synchronized to intermesh with the raised contoured portions of the impellers on the first rotary shaft without contacting each other; and d. gear means for synchronizing the impellers on the first shaft with the impellers on the second shaft.
 2. The pump of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recessed chambers inside the pump housing adjacent to the impellers for relieving fluid pressure as it builds from between two adjacent impellers to provide for self-priming of the pump.
 3. The pump of claim 2, wherein the number of relief chambers is four.
 4. The pump of claim 1, further comprising motor means for rotationally drivng at least one of the two shafts.
 5. The pump of claim 1 wherein the pump housing comprises a housing member and a second housing member which are removably securable to each other to form single pump housing.
 6. The pump of claim 5 where the first and second housing members are removably securable to each other by a plurality of fastener members.
 7. The pump of claim 5 comprising a third member, said member being disposed inbetween the first housing member and the second housing member to separate the first housing member and the second housing member.
 8. The pump of claim 7 wherein the third member further comprises a fluid sealing means between the first housing member and the second housing member.
 9. The pump of claim 8 wherein the fluid sealing means further comprises fluid sealing means about the first shaft and the second shaft.
 10. The pump of claim 8 wherein the fluid sealing means comprises at least two members having a first fluid sealing means disposed between the at least two members, a second fluid sealing means disposed between the at least two members and the first rotary shaft, and a third fluid sealing means disposed between the at least two members and the second rotary shaft.
 11. The pump of claim 1 further comprising a fluid pressure release chamber in the inside of the pump housing adjacent to the fluid inlet.
 12. The pump of claim 1 further comprising a fluid pressure release chamber in the inside of the pump housing adjacent to the fluid outlet.
 13. The pump of claim 1 further comprising a fluid pressure release chamber in the inside of the pump housing disposed medially between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.
 14. The pump of claim 11 wherein said fluid pressure release chamber further comprises a center fluid compression release channel in the housing.
 15. The pump of claim 12 wherein said fluid pressure release chamber further comprises a center fluid compression release channel in the housing.
 16. The pump of claims 11, 12 and 13 further comprise a plurality of fluid compression release channels disposed in fluid communication with the fluid pressure release chambers of claims 11, 12 and
 13. 